As 2024 comes to a close, Lewis & Clark Library staff were asked to reflect on their favorite read of the past year. It is often hard, if not impossible to pick just one favorite book from the last twelve months, so know that the books that follow may have many close runner up choices. Also, it is our hope that you've had the opportunity to find many new favorite books this year and that the library has served you well in your reading selections. We appreciate you, dear Reader!
Now for some of our favorite reads of 2024:
John . . .
James by
James is a beautifully written retelling of the Huckleberry Finn adventures. The story is told from the point of view of Huck’s companion Jim. James tells a similar story, but with much more humanity and understanding than Twain could manage in 1885. Heartbreaking; at times funny; brutal; but always beautiful and revealing.
Find James in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby eBook and audiobook
Read more about the author Here
The Women by
This novel paints a stirring portrait of a woman’s experience not only of the Vietnam War, but the world following its end. It is a tale of strength and determination, but also the fragility of human existence, both physically and emotionally. As always, Hannah’s attention to historical detail lends to a feeling of authenticity. I’d give this book five stars!
Find The Women in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby eBook and audiobook
Hoopla audiobook
Read more about the author Here
Clare . . .
A Walk in the Park by
In his signature style, Kevin Fedarko takes us along with him, as he and photographer Pete McBride, attempt to complete an end-to-end transvers of the Grand Canyon. Along the way we explore not only the scenery, but also the history and politics around the Canyon. This book had me marveling at the immensity of the canyon itself as well as the odd human ability to think "oh how hard could that be?" I'm ready for a vacation to the canyon, but perhaps just to peer admiringly over the edge.
Find A Walk in the Park in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Hoopla audiobook
Read more about the author Here
Terri . . .
North Woods by When two young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to growing apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths an ancient mass grave--only to discover that the earth refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a sinister con man, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: As the inhabitants confront the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive. This magisterial and highly inventive novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason brims with love and madness, humor and hope. Following the cycles of history, nature, and even language, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we're connected to our environment, to history, and to one another. It is not just an unforgettable novel about secrets and destinies, but a way of looking at the world that asks the timeless question: How do we live on, even after we're gone?
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby eBook and audiobook
Read more about the author Here
My Beloved Monster (the half-wild cat who rescued me) by
Caleb Carr has had special relationships with cats since he was a young boy in a turbulent household, famously peopled by the founding members of the Beat Generation, where his steadiest companions were the adopted cats that lived with him both in the city and the country. As an adult, he has had many close feline companions, with relationships that have outlasted most of his human ones. But only after building a three-story home in rural, upstate New York did he enter into the most extraordinary of all of his cat pairings: Masha, a Siberian Forest cat who had been abandoned as a kitten, and was languishing in a shelter when Caleb met her. She had hissed and fought off all previous carers and potential adopters, but somehow, she chose Caleb as her savior. For the seventeen years that followed, Caleb and Masha were inseparable. Masha ruled the house and the extensive, dangerous surrounding fields and forests. When she was hurt, only Caleb could help her. When he suffered long-standing physical ailments, Masha knew what to do. Caleb's life-long study of the literature of cat behavior, and his years of experience with previous cats, helped him decode much of Masha's inner life. But their bond went far beyond academic studies and experience. The story of Caleb and Masha is an inspiring and life-affirming relationship for readers of all backgrounds and interests--a love story like no other.
Find My Beloved Monster in the library catalog
Read more about the author Here
Molly . . .
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by
This book shook me out of a reading rut and pushed me to read more books outside of my comfort zone.
In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. Local legend says that this shop offers something else besides coffee--the chance to travel back in time. Over the course of one summer, four customers visit the café in the hopes of making that journey. But time travel isn't so simple, and there are rules that must be followed. Most important, the trip can last only as long as it takes for the coffee to get cold. Heartwarming, wistful, mysterious and delightfully quirky, Toshikazu Kawaguchi's internationally bestselling novel explores the age-old question: What would you change if you could travel back in time?
Find Before the Coffee Gets Cold in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby eBook and audiobook
Hoopla eBook and audiobook
Read more about the author Here
Lisa . . .
The Husbands by
Find The Husbands in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby eBook and audiobook
Read more about the author Here
Holly . . .
Maisie Dobbs by
I really enjoyed the Maisie Dobbs series by Jaqueline Winspear this year. It was such a pleasant surprise to read. The plot, characters, and setting were all very interesting. The writing was excellent. Plus the main character is not your usual heroine. I could see it as a really great PBS/BBC drama series. I could just see it all in my head. I read the first four books in the series.
Find the Maisie Dobbs series in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby eBooks and audiobooks
Hoopla eBooks and audiobooks
Read more about the author Here
Iron Widow by
In a land both futuristic and based on Ancient China, Zetian has given up on living long --so she sets her sights on revenge, planning to kill her sister's murderer (a mecha pilot widely hailed as a celebrity war hero). The trouble is, Zetian is more powerful than she imagined, and the war is not what it seems. I loved the dramatic, no-holds-barred fierceness of Zetian's character --and I loved that she pulled no punches in a world that is determined to diminish and destroy her.
Find Iron Widow in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby eBook and audiobook
Read more about the author Here
Deby . . .
A Brew to a Kill by
A shocking hit-and-run in front of her Village Blend coffeehouse spurs Clare Cosi into action. A divorced, single mom in her forties, Clare is also a dedicated sleuth, and she's determined to track down this ruthless driver who ran down an innocent friend and customer. In the meantime, her ex-husband Matt, the shop's globetrotting coffee buyer, sources some amazing new beans from Brazil. But he soon discovers that he's importing more than coffee, and Clare may have been the real target of that deadly driver. Can ex-husband and wife work together to solve this mystery? Or will their newest brew lead to murder?
A Brew to Kill is the eleventh book in the Coffeehouse mystery series by Cleo Coyle. This cozy mystery series is really great and there are recipes!
Find the Coffee House mystery series in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby eBook and audiobook
Hoopla audiobooks
Read more about the author Here
Uzumaki by
One of my favorite books I've read this year is Uzumaki by Junji Ito. It's a horror manga with beautiful, often grotesque artwork. The horror aspect centers around the concept of a spiral, in both literal and figurative ways. Often unsettling, it kept me hooked, wondering what twisted things the author was going to throw at me next.
Find Uzumaki in the library catalog
Read more about the author Here
Malin . . .
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by
Warning: do not listen to this on audiobook while driving: it's so interesting, you won't be able to pay attention to the road! (I may possibly know from experience.) The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School follows a Latina teenager named Yamilet Flores as she transfers to a Catholic high school as a closeted lesbian. Yamilet is an incredibly lovable character, and I was so anxious for her at some points that I had to pause the audiobook and take some deep breaths. This book basically consumed my life until I finished it, and it was totally worth it. 10/10 recommend.
TW: This book deals with homophobia, racism, and mental illness.
Find The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby audiobook
Hoopla audiobook
Read more about the author Here
Something Is Killing the Children by
Imagine being so terrified of the creature under the bed that you manifest that monster into life, and then it goes on a rampage and kills all of your friends and family. That's when Erica Slaughter rolls into town. Erica is part of a secret organization that dispatches such horrific creations before they escape into the wider world, where tales of things can be kept quiet. Both thrilling and terrifying, this title is not for the faint of heart.
Find Something is Killing the Children in the library catalog
Also available by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera for digital checkout:
Hoopla comics
Bog Myrtle by
Enjoy this modern-day fairytale, akin to Grimm tales of old, as one sister attempts to do something kind for her sister and the pitfalls of capitalism and greed. A pro-union and pro-worker tale, rendered in lush detail should become a new household favorite at story time. And there are super-cute spiders!
Find Bog Myrtle in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Hoopla eBook
Beth . . .
Knitting the National Parks by
This is such a cool knitting book! Featuring a unique beanie pattern inspired by each of the 63 US National Parks, this collection is so creative and fun. I don't know how many of the hats I will actually make from this book, but it's fun looking at the variety of patterns as well as the gorgeous landscapes from the various parks. I especially love the patterns for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado, the Joshua Tree in California, and Glacier Bay (Alaska). I read a lot of good books this year, but this long awaited knitting book brought me the most joy!
Find Knitting the National Parks in the library catalog
Bretagne . . .
Tiny Humans, Big Emotions by
The Future is Emotionally Intelligent --Find this helpful book in the parenting section!
We're in the midst of a parenting revolution that is radically changing the way we raise our kids. Gone are the days of minimizing emotions: Don't Cry. You're Fine. Don't Make a Scene. As our understanding of developing brains has increased, today's parents are looking for a new way to help their children understand their feelings and learn to process them. Emotional development experts Alyssa Blask Campbell, M.Ed. and Lauren Stauble M.S. are at the forefront of a movement to foster little ones' emotional intelligence. Their revolutionary Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP) method has been a game changer for parents and educators, and now they are sharing it with readers in this indispensable guide. Tiny Humans, Big Emotions provides the tools to tackle every sort of stressful child-rearing situation, including:
* What to do when your child throws a tantrum (it's not what you think!)
* Helpful scripts to handle any challenging moment like school refusal and bedtime resistance
* How to react when your child hits, punches, or bites
* Easy tips that help regulate your child's nervous system
* How to anticipate and end meltdowns before they even begin
Designed for all humans--tiny and big--this book shows caregivers of children how to handle their children's outbursts while empowering them to recognize and manage difficult feelings like anger, sadness, and shame, along with anxiety. All caregivers will find valuable insights and guidance in this book, especially those caring for children from infancy to age eight. Tiny Humans, Big Emotions equips adults with tools for emotional intelligence so they can respond with intention. This innovative, research-based approach teaches children self-regulation and empathy, even as it strengthens the parent-child relationship, setting the groundwork for a lifetime of emotional resilience and wellbeing. This book is an essential, empathetic guide that will teach parents to notice their own habits and hold space for their tiny human's big emotions.
Find Tiny Humans, Big Emotions in the library catalog
Also available for digital checkout:
Libby audiobook
Thanks for reading the blog in 2024! Now to get ready for next year. Are you the kind of person who likes to set reading goals for the New Year? Stay tuned for some great tips on setting New Year's reading intentions.
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